Panama Canal

The Panama Canal is an 82-kilometer artificial waterway in Panama that connects the Atlantic Ocean with the Pacific Ocean, cutting across the Isthmus of Panama. It is a conduit for maritime trade and allows ships to avoid the lengthy and hazardous route around the southernmost tip of South America. The canal is 33.5 meters wide and allows the passage of Panamax ships, with a third, wider lane of locks constructed between 2007 and 2016 to accommodate larger Neopanamax ships. The canal has been controlled by various countries, including France, the United States, and Panama, with the Panamanian government taking control in 1999. It is now managed and operated by the Panamanian government-owned Panama Canal Authority.learn more on wikipedia